In May 2019, a non-fungible token representing the commencement digital F1 motorcar minted for the blockchain game F1 Delta Fourth dimension was sold for a record-breaking $110,000. The winner of the sale has just come forward, revealing why he bought the elusive NFT.

The ane-1-1 Formula one car was the near expensive NFT sold in 2019, designed for the officially licensed game. The one-of-a-kind racer was produced in official partnership with Formula 1 and marked a digital milestone. Up until now, the buyer has remained anonymous.

Details nearly the heir-apparent were disclosed on the Blockchain Gaming World podcast, and Animoca Brands, the blockchain gaming business firm that sold the NFT and created Delta Fourth dimension, revealed the heir-apparent was the pseudonymous "Metakovan."

Metakovan is an affections investor, entrepreneur, reported Ethereum whale and NFT collector. During the interview with podcast host Jon Jordan, the investor revealed that information technology wasn't even the near expensive purchase he had fabricated and that he has not taken the digital car out for a spin on the digital track still. He said that the brand and the auction piqued his interest:

"A branded NFT was 1 of the first things that caught my eye. But I did not know the visitor. […] I did see this interesting bidding state of war developing. […] As I saw the sale I noticed there was something interesting happening here."

He explained that that the appeal for NFTs for him is the uniqueness and the story that accompanies it, adding:

"I could've bought a real car for this. And that'southward what makes good stories, actually, at the terminate of the 24-hour interval."

NFTs such as the gem-encrusted 1-1-1 tin can be raced in the game also every bit staked to earn native REVV tokens. In a Tweet he elaborated on why NFTs hateful so much to him:

"The way art has blossomed makes doubly sure that NFTs are the perfect medium for crypto. This is considering NFTs were, and are, so much fun. From an Urbit Galaxy to the F1 DeltaTime 111, to estates total of promise in CV and DCL. As NFTs, I was collecting experiences  — fully formed ones as well equally seeds of time to come experiences."

Animoca Brands co-founder and chairman, Yat Siu, was excited by the reveal:

"Afterward nearly a twelvemonth and a half we finally know that Metakovan is the owner of the 1-1-i, and we couldn't be happier."

He added that art is not fabricated famous by the artists themselves, it is made famous by the collectors. They are the ones that grow the story, making information technology so much more than powerful and interesting.

The designer of the ostentatious 1-1-1 race car, Ibrahim El-Mouelhy, wrote a lengthy personal account of the sale and the ensuing hunt for the owner. He revealed that the activeness was set in wETH which was priced at around $272 at the fourth dimension.

The winning bid of 419.5 ETH was auspicious, as it equated to $111,111 at the time. Today's ETH toll would work out at $191,200. Metakovan stated that he chose that price to leave an "easter egg" for those trying to rail him down, embellishing his remarkable story even farther.

NFT sales have surged in 2020, and that tendency is not looking likely to slow down any time before long.